Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-02-17

Alice. You have no consideration"
"But when ,on hare discovered him-what
then!" queried Miss Alice.
What then!"
eyes. My belief is that you will find the
telegram only mere business cipher, and all
this quest mere nonsense"
"Alice! Why, you yourself thought your
fathers conduct that night very strange.
Have you forgotten!"
The young lady had not, but, for some far
reaching feminine reason, chose to ignore it
at that moment, when her late tumble in the
snow was still fresh in her mind.
"And this woman, whoever she may be-
continued Mrs. Rightbody
"How do you know there's woman in the
case!" interrupted Miss Alice, wickedly, |
fear.
"How do-I-know-there's womanln
slowly CALCULATED Mrs Rightbody, founder
ing in the snow at the unexpected possibility
of such ridiculous question. But here her
guide flew to her assistance, and stopped fur
ther speech. And, indeed, grave problem
was before them.
The road that led to their single place of
refuge-a cabin, half hotel, half trading post,
scarce mile away-skirted the base of the
rocky dome, and passed perilously near the
precipitous wall of the valley. There was a
rapid descent of hundred yards or more to
this terrace-like passage; and the guides
paused for & moment of consultation, coolly
oblivious, alike to the terrified questioning of
Mrs. Rightbody, or the half insolent indie
pendence of the daughter. The elder guide
was russet bearded, stout and humorous; the
younger was dark bearded, Slight and Sc
rious.
"Ef you kin sit young Bunker Hill to let
you tote her on your shoulders, I'll get the
madam to hang On to me-" came to Mrs.
Rightbodys Mortified ears as the expression
of her particular companion.
"Freeze to the old gal, and don't reckon on
me if the daughter starts in to play it alone"
was the enigmatical response of the younger
guide.
Miss Alice overheard both propositions;
and, before the two men returned to their
side, that high-spirited young lady had urged
her horse down the declivity.
Alas at this moment a gust of whrling
founder, mis-srep, a fatal strain on the
wrong rein, fall, a few plucky but unavail-
ing struggles, and both horse and rider slid
ANONYMOUSLY down toward the rocky shelf
Mrs. Rightbody screamed. Miss Alice, from
a confused debris Of snow and ice, uplifted
vexed and coloring face to the younger guide,
a little the more angrly, perhaps, that she
saw shade of impatience on his face
"Dont move, Tut tie one end Of the lass
under your arms, and throw me the other"
be said, quietly.
"What do you mean by 'lass-the lasso"
asked Miss Alice, disgustedly.
"Yes, ma a'am."
"Then why don't you say sos'
"Oh, Alice" reproachfully interpolated
Mrs Rightbo ly, encircled by the elder guides
stalwart arm.
Miss Alice deigned no reply, but drew the
loop of the lasso over her shoulders, and let
it drop to her round waist. Then she essayed
to throw the other end to her guide. Dismal
failure! The first fling nearly knocked her
Off the ledge; the second went all wild against
the rocky wall; the third caught in a thorn
bush, twenty feet below her companions feet.
Miss Alice's arm sunk helplessly to her side,
at which signal of unqualified surrender the
younger guide threw himself half way down
the slope, worked his way to the thorn bush,
hung for a moment perilously over the para
pet, secured the lasso, and then began to pull
away at his lovely burden. Miss Alice was
no dead weight, however, but steadily half
scrambled on her hands and knees to within a
foot or two of her rescuer. At this too
familiar proximity, she stood up, and leaned |
, little stiffly against the line, causing the |
guide to give an extra pull, which had the |
amentable effect of landing her almost in his |
arms AS it was, her intelligent forehead |
struck his nose sharply, and 1 regret to add, |
,reating of a romantic situation, caused that
prominent sign and token of a
nero to bleed freely. Miss Alice instantly
,lapped a handful of snow over his nostrils.
Now elevate your right arm" she said
He did as he was hidden, but sullliiy.
THAT congresses the artery"
No man, with pretty woman's hand and
/ handful of snow over his mouth and nose,
,ould effectively utter heroic sentence, nor,
With his arm elevated stifily over his head,
.ssume a heroic attitude. But, when his
mouth was free again, he said half-sulkily,
-apologetically:
Il might lave known girl couldn't throw
worth a cent"
"Why" demanded Miss Alice sharply.
"Because-why-beca you see-they
haven't got the experience" he stammered
eebly.
Nonsense! they haven't the ciavicle-thats
III! It's because I'm woman, and smaller
n the collar bone, that l haven't the play OF
he forearm which you have. See!" She
quared her shoulders slightly, and turned
he blaze of her dark eyes full on his. "Ex-
erience, indeedl a girl can learn anything
boy can"
Apprehension took the place of ill-humor in
er hearer. He turned his eyes hastily away,
nd glanced above him. The elder guide had
one forward to catch Miss Alices horse,
which, relieved of his rider, was founder
Ig toward the trail. Mrs Rightbody was
owhere to be seen. And these two were
till twenty feet below the trail
There was an awkward pause
"Shall L pull you up the same way." he
ueried. Miss Alice looked at his nose, and
esitated. "Or will you take my hand!n he
dded, in surly impatience To his surprise,
liss Alice took his hand, and they began the
scent together.
But the way was difficult and dangerous
nee or twice her feet slipped on the smoothly
IC,clr hanaafh. nd -he L